Ben Stewart
The most clinical players in the Champions League
As we head into the second legs of the Round of 16 Champions League ties, we’ve taken a look into the most clinical players in the competition so far.
We’ve looked into the xG numbers and ranked the top ten overperformers from this stat.
10. Sébastien Thill
FC Sheriff might not have qualified from their group, but they made a great run of it as they finished third in Group D. Sébastien Thill scored an unforgettable 89th minute winner at the Bernabéu as Sheriff shocked the world by beating Real Madrid.
Thill managed to score two goals from an xG of just 0.3, an overperformance of 1.7 goals.
9. Leroy Sane
Bayern Munich cruised through group E with a flawless record, whilst scoring 22 goals – more than another side in the group stages. Leroy Sane himself has scored five goals in this year's competition from an xG of 3.3.
With an xG overperformance of 1.7 goals, Sane has been Bayern Munich’s second most clinical player in this year’s Champions League.
8. Antoine Griezmann
Antoine Griezmann was close to adding another goal to his European tally against Manchester United in their first Round of 16 tie, but he was denied by the crossbar.
The French forward has scored four goals from an xG of 2.2, an overperformance of 1.8 goals. Diego Simeone has rotated his forward options throughout the season, but Griezmann remains as their top scorer in Europe, having scored three more goals than any other Atletico player.
7. Gabriel Jesus
Having beat Sporting CP 5-0 in the first leg, Manchester City already have one foot in the quarter-finals. Gabriel Jesus has been their most clinical forward in Europe this season with an xG overperformance of 1.9 goals.
6. Sebastien Haller
Sébastien Haller is currently this year’s top scorer with 11 goals in seven appearances. Ajax won all six of their group stage matches and they were held to a 2-2 draw against Benfica in the first leg of their Round of 16 tie.
Haller has overperformed his xG by two goals so far and he has had an impressive conversion rate of 52%.
5. Roberto Firmino
Although Roberto Firmino is often seen as a facilitator to Sadio Mane and Mo Salah, he currently ranks amongst the most clinical players in Europe. The 30-year-old has scored three goals from an xG of just 0.8.
His overperformance of 2.2 goals ranks him as the fifth most clinical player in the Champions League this season.
4. Cristiano Ronaldo
Despite Cristiano Ronaldo underperforming his Premier League xG by -3.3 goals, his numbers in the Champions League have been as clinical as ever. Ronaldo has scored 50% of Man United’s goals in Europe this season and he is the reason they progressed through Group F.
CR7 has scored six goals from an xG of 3.3, an overperformance of 2.7 goals.
3. Robert Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski has scored more goals than any other player across Europe’s top five leagues with 28 league goals so far. He has been just as clinical in the Champions League with nine goals from an xG of six.
Lewandowski’s overperformance of three goals ranks him as the third most clinical player in this year’s Champions League.
2. Mohamed Salah
Arguably the best player in the world, Mohamed Salah has been the second most clinical player in the Champions League with an overperformance of 3.7 goals.
The Egyptian has managed to score an impressive eight goals from an xG of 4.3. Salah scored Liverpool’s second goal against Inter Milan, which has put them in pole position to qualify ahead of the reverse fixture at Anfield.
1. Christopher Nkunku
Coming in with the biggest xG overperformance in the Champions League this season we have RB Leipzig’s Christopher Nkunku.
The Frenchman scored a hattrick in the first gameweek against Manchester City and he’s continued to impress in this year's competition. Nkunku has scored seven goals from an xG of just 2.7, meaning he has overperformed his xG by 4.3 goals.